Coin-controlled operating mechanism.



PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

D. JAMES.

COIN CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.27, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHIIETS-SHEET 1.

% Jaznes, came/MM PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

I 1 JAMES.

00m CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOVAIIONYIILED 001'. 27, 1902.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

no MODEL.

flayed m8, wuewtoz 2 H z w LI- a UNITED STATES.

Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

COIN-CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 764,056, dated July 5, 1904,

Application filed October 27, 1902. Serial No. 129.Q17. (No model.)

T 0 all, whom it Wtay concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID JAMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coifeyville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Coin- Controlled Operating FIechanism, of whic the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin -controlled operating mechanism for vending-machines, and has for its object to produce a simple operating device capable of use in connection'with that type of vending-machine disclosed in my concurrent application, Serial N 0. 129,016, and depending'for its operative connection upon a coin which when-deposited by the vend'ee will effect an operative connection between a manually-operated handle and the delivering mechanism of the machine. Subordinate to this general object are others which will appear during the course of the succeeding description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine and its operating mechanism,-one side of the casing being removed and certain parts of the structure broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a machine equipped with my novel coin-controlled operating mechanism, a part of the casing being broken away. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine, showing the casing and certain parts of the mechanism in section. Fig. iis a detail view of the operating-lever and its mounting and showing the swinging detent, an intermediate position of the lever being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one end of the two-part shaft and associated parts. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional elevation showing the relation of the shaft, the coinoperated detent, and associated parts and showing in dotted lines the receiver swung down and the guard swung to its position be low the discharge-opening of the coin chute or race; and Fig. 7 is asectional view through the lower end of the coin-race and through the swinging guardand coin-receiver.

Like numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The vending-machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings is identical with that claimed in my concurrent application hereinbefore identified, and it will be described only in so far as is necessary to make plain the manner in which it is related to the coin-controlled operating mechanism to be specifically described and claimed in this application.

Within asuitable casing 1 is mounted a machine-frame 2, constructed'to provide a receptacle in its upper portion for a cigar-box 3, from which cigars are fed by a follower-plate 4 to a chute 5, located atthe front end of the frame. From the chute 5 the cigars are deposited one at a time in the pocket 6 of a feed- 'slide 7. As this slide is reciprocated the cigars are conveyed to the front end of the frame, Where they are dropped upon a ledge 8. At the lower edge of this ledge, which latter is downwardly inclined, is disposed a movable Wall 9, constituting part of a pivoted counterweighted holder 10, the wall 9 serving to prevent a cigar deposited upon the ledge 8 from escaping prematurely therefrom.

The holder is provided with trip-arms 11, disposed in the path of an oscillating carrier 12, the side arms 13 of which are pivoted to the opposite sides of theframe 2 adjacent to their upper rear corners, as shown in Fig. 1. The oscillating carrier 12 includes a support 14:, extending beyond the front ends of the arms 13, and upon this support is mounted a pivoted ejector 15, which upon the complete depression of the carrier is disposed in'advan cc of and below the ledge 8 to receive a cigar dropping from the latter upon the withdrawal of the wall 9 as the carrier reaches its depressed position. 7 i

The follower-plate 4 is operated through the movement of the feed-slide; but the mechanism for transmitting the necessary motion constitutes no part of the present'invention and need not be described. The machine also embodies various adjunctive devices for regulatfor the support'of a two-part shaft, comprising what may be termed the shaft proper, 18, afforded bearings in the brackets 16 and 17 and surrounded by a sleeve 19, designed, except under certain conditions to be mentioned, to permit the independent rotation of the shaft. From this sleeve 19 extend a pair of arms 20, to which are pivotally connected, preferably by a cross-bar 21, a pair of pitmen 22 and a pair of links 23. The pitmen, disposed at opposite sides of the frame 2, are connected at their front ends to a shaft 21, connected to the feed-slide and having its ends extended through slots 25 in the frame-walls for connection with the pitmen. The links 23, similarly located beyond opposite sides of the frame, are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the arms 13. It will be seen from this character of connection that the sleeve 19 when rotated ,Will swing the arms 20, thus imparting a reciprocatory movement to'the feed-slide through the medium of the pitmen and an oscillatory movement to the carrier 12 through the medium of the links 23. These movements of the feed-slide and carrier are properly timed so that as the carrier is being elevated to transfer a cigar from av point in advance of the machine to a delivery-opening in the top of the casing 1 the feed-slide will advance a cigar from the chute 5 to the ledge 8 for delivery to the carrier upon the com plete recession ofthe latter through the re verse movement of the sleeve 19 and its arms 20.

Vi e have now seen that the feeding and delivering mechanisms of the vending-machine are both connected to the sleeve 19 of the operating mechanism and that said sleeve is mounted loosely upon the shaft 18. I shall now proceed to describe the mechanism whereby a rocking or oscillatory motion is imparted to the shaft 18 from a suitable operatinghandle and will then describe the coin-operated mechanism for connecting the sleeve 19 to said shaft in a manner to enable the vendee to operate the machine by the manipulation of the handle after a coin has been-deposited.

Beyond the bracket 16 the shaft is provided with a crank-arm 26, (see Fig. 1,) to the Wrist of which is connected the rear end of a drawrod 27, located beyond one side of the machine-frame, and preferably rendered extensible by forming the rod in sections and by connecting the sections by a turnbuckle 28. The front extremity of the draw-rod 27 is pivot.- ally connected, as indicated at 29, to an angular operating-lever 30, fulcrumed at 31 in a suitable bracket 32, secured within the casing 1, one end of the lever being extended through the front wall of the casing and constituting an operating handle 33 accessible to the vendee. It will be observed that by swinging the lever 30 the draw-rod is moved longitudinally to swing the crank-arm 26, and thereby effect the partial rotation of the shaft 18. This movement of the shaft is sufficient, provided the shaft and sleeve are properly connected, to move the carrier 12 from its normal position (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) to the delivery-opening in the casing. It will therefore, be seen that when such connection has been effected the manipulation of the operating-handle in the manner specified will cause the transfer of a cigar to the delivery-opening, through which it will be projected by the tilting of the ejector 15, as described specifically in my copending application.

The mechanism for eflecting the necessary connection between the sleeve and shaft includes a coin-operated detent 3 1, pivotally mounted upon a lug 35, projecting from the sleeve, and having at one end a beak 36, disposed normally within a slot 37 in the sleeve 19 and arranged when the detent is tilted to enter a notch or recess 38 in the shaft 18. It will be obvious that when the detent is tilted to move the beak into the notch 38 in the shaft the sleeve and shaft will be connected for rotary movement in unison; but normally the beak is held out of engagement with the notch by a counterweight 39, carried by one end of the detent and serving to retain the latter in its disengaged position, as shown in Fig. 3. The operation of the detent to connect the sleeve and shaft is designed to be effected by a coin deposited by the vendee.

At the extremity of an angular arm 10, constituting one end of the detent 34 and extending beyond the beak, is supported what may be termed a coin receiver or cup 41, normally located under the discharge-opening 412 of a coin chute or race 43, extending at a downward and rearward inclination from a coinslot 4 1 in the top Wall of the casing 1 to the rear end of the machine-frame at one side thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1. The lower extremity of this chute 13 is disposed horizontally, as shown in Fig. 7 so that when a. coin is dropped through the opening 12 into the cup or receiver 11 it will not sustain the weight of more than a single coin in the event of a number of coins having been deposited in the chute. This chute is preferably secured to the upper end of the bracket 16, as shown in Fig. 8; but any other character of support would suflice.

To prevent a coin from being discharged from the chute when the receiver 11 is out of its receiving position, I provide a swinging guard 45, pivoted, as indicated at 46, just above the lower end of the chute and having its lower end bent at an angle, as indicated in Fig. 3, and disposed in one position of the guard to close the opening 12 of the coinvTOO chute.

- to receive it.

some meansmust be provided for swinging Let us now suppose that a coin is-deposited inthe slot 44, the detent being in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the guard being inthe position indicated in Fig. 7. The coin will gravitate through the chute and will drop through the opening 42 into the receiver 41.

The weight of the coin being sufiicient to over-' come the counterweight 39 will swing the detent to cause the beak 36 thereof to pass into the notch 38 of the shaft 18. An operative connection between the sleeve and shaft will thus be effected, and the vendee may operate the machine by swinging the operating-handle 33 to the dottedposition indicated in Fig. 4. This operation of the handle will cause the shaft and sleeve to be turned in an obvious manner, and as the receiver 41 is movable with the sleeve it will be swung away from the lower end of the chute 43 to the dotted position indicated in Fig. 6. In this position of the receiver'the coin will gravitate therefrom, and as the vendee throws the handle back to its normal position the parts: will be returned and the device will be ready for a succeeding operation upon the deposit of another coin.

It will be noted that as soon as the receiver leaves its normal position upon the actuation of the machine the guard 45 will swing rearward to close the opening 42, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and if, therefore, another coin is deposited in the chute before the parts have been restored to their normal positions it will be detained and will not'drop into the casing until the receiver is again in position 'It will appear, therefore, that the guard out of its obstructing position when the receiver moves back to a position below the opening 42. To accomplish this end, I provide the sleeve 19 with a guard-operating finger 47, disposed to engage the angular end of the guard and to sw1ng said guard back to the position indicated in Fig. 6 as the receiver is moving back to receive the coin.

Ordinarily the structure as thus far described would' be entirely operative and effective; but it sometimes happens that the irregular manipulation of the operating-lever will relieve the clamping action of the side wall of the notch 38 against the beak of the detent, which is necessary to maintain the detent in engagement after-the coin has dropped from the receiver. In this event the detent swings to its disengaging position'before the carrier and feed-slide have been fully retracted, and the machine elements are thus turn of the parts upon the happening of this contingency; but it is possible through lack.

of a proper adjustment or for other reasons that the proper positions of the parts would not be completely restored without assistance from the operator, and I have therefore provid ed means independent of the detent for connecting the operating mechanism with the machine to facilitate the retraction of the parts,

this means being ineffective to connect the. parts when the feeding and delivering mechanisms are in their normal positions or to permit the operation of said mechanisms in other than a retractile direction. This separate connecting means is best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and includes a pin 48, extending from the shaft 18 through a cut-out portion or opening 49 in the sleeve 19, the pin being disposed in the normal positions of the parts to abut against a wall or shoulder 50 definingone end of the opening in the sleeve. If now the handle 33 is operated prior to the deposit of a coin in the chute, the shaft 18 will be rotated and the pin 48will simply travel in theopening 49 in the sleeve without imparting movement to the latter. If, however, thesleeve and shaft are connected by the detent, they will rotate in unison, the shoulder 50 and the pin 48 remaining in contact. If, therefore, the detent becomes disengaged from the. shaft before the parts have been fully re-, tracted, the depression of the handle 33 will rotate the shaft, and the pin 48, abutting against the shoulder 50 of the sleeve, will compel the rotation of the latter to insure the retraction of the carrier and feed-slide.

The final feature of the present inventionresides in means for compelling the vendee to move the handle 33. to the extreme end of its stroke in one'direction before he can move it inthe opposite direction, the reason for this provision being to insure the delivery of a cigar to the carrier before the latter can be moved to the delivery-opening.

Upon the bracket 32 is mounted a swinging detent 51, provided in its opposite edges with teethdesigned to be engaged by a projection 52, extending laterally from the lever 30 at some distance from the fulcrum thereof.

-VVhen the lever 30 is swung in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, the projection 52 will contact with one side edge of the detent and will swing the latter. As the movement con-, tinues the projection will engage the succes-- sive teeth of the detent and will be dogged thereby until said-projection passes beyond the end of the detent just as the lever 30 reaches the limit of its movement. When the projection clears the detent in the manner stated, said detent will swing back to its normal position, and uponthe reverse movement of the lever the projection 52 will engage the teeth at the opposite side of the detent and will be dogged in a manner similar to that described until the 'end of the stroke is reached and the detent swings back, as described. It will therefore appear that if .a vendee having received a cigar from the machine fails to completely restore the handle to its normal position the next person desiring to purchase a cigar will find it impossible to raise the handle until he has first depressed it sufficiently to insure the delivery of a cigar to the carrier, after which the machine maybe operated to effect the delivery of a cigar through the dischargeopening at the top of the casing 1.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction and operation of my coin-controlled operating mechanism will be clearly apparent; but while the illustrated embodiment of the invention is believed at this time to be preferable I do not limit myself to the structural details defined, as, on the contrary, a

I reserve the right to effect such changes, modifications, and variations of the illustrated structure as may be fairly embraced within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is- 1. In coin-controlled operating mechanism,

the combination with a shaft provided with a pin extending laterally therefrom adjacent to one end and with a longitudinal recess, and a crank-arm extending from one end of the shaft and having means of attachment to suitable operating mechanism, of a sleeve incasing the shaft and provided with a cut-away portion at one end for the accommodation of the pin,arms designed for connection with the mechanism to be operated, and a slot normally coinciding with the recess in the shaft, adetent mounted on the sleeve and provided with a beak disposed to pass through the slot in the sleeve and into the recess in the shaft, a coin-receiver located at one extremity of the detent, and means at the other extremity of the detent for overbalancing the latter when the receiver is empty.

2. In coin-controlled operating mechanism, the combination with a shaft, and a relatively movable sleeve, of means for operating one of said elements, means for connecting the other of said elements to the mechanism to be operated, a coin-controlled detent for connecting the shaft and sleeve for movement in unison, a coin-receiver carried by the detent, a coinchute disposed to deposit a coin in the receiver, a guard movable to a position opposite the discharge-opening of the chute when the re ceiver is not in a position to receive a coin, and means movable with the receiver for moving the guard away from the discharge-opening of the chute when the receiver is moved to its receiving position.

3. In coin-controlled operating mechanism, the combination with a shaft, and a relatively movable sleeve, of means for operating one of said elements, means for connecting the other of said elements to the mechanism to be operated, a coin-controlled detent for connecting the shaft and sleeve for movement in unison, a coin-receiver carried by the detent, a coinchute disposed to deposit a coin into the receiver, a guard movable to a position opposite the discharge-opening of the chute when the receiver is not in a position to receive a coin, and a finger extending laterally from the sleeve and disposed to engage the guard to move the same.

4:. In coin-controlled operating mechanism, the combination with a recessed shaft, and means for operating the same, of a shouldered sleeve mounted on the shaft, a detent pivoted on the sleeve and disposed to engage the recess in the shaft, a coin-receiver carried by the detent, a coin-chute disposed to deposit a coin in the'receiver, a swinging guard movable to a position opposite the discharge-opening of the chute when the receiver is out of its receiving position, a finger extending from the sleeve to engage and operate the guard, a pin extending from the shaft and disposed to engage the shoulder of the sleeve, and means for connecting the sleeve with the mechanism to be operated.

5. In coin-controlled operating mechanism, the combination with an operating-lever, a shaft connected to the mechanism to be operated, and coin-operated means controlling the operative connection between the mechanism to be operated and the operating-lever, of a swinging detent provided with teeth at its opposite edges, and a projection on the lever arranged to engage the opposite sides of the detent as the lever is moved in opposite directions and to pass beyond the end of the detent as the limit of the movement of the lever in either direction is reached.

6. In coin-controlled operating mechanism, the combination with a two-part shaft, and a coin-operated detent for connecting the parts of said shaft, of a crank-arm extending from one part of the shaft, a rod extending from the crank-arm, an operating-lever connected to said rod, and a detent for dogging the operating-lever in each direction, to prevent its movement in one direction before its movement in the opposite direction has been completed.

7 In coin-controlled operating mechanism, the combination with a two-part shaft, and a coin-operated detent for connecting the parts of said shaft, of a crank-arm extending from one part of the shaft, a rod extending from the crank-arm, an operating-lever connected to the rod and having a projection, and a swinging detent having its opposite edges toothed and arranged to be engaged and swung by the projection on the lever and to be released by the passage of said projection beyond the free end of the swinging detent.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID JAMES.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, BLANCHE KALDENBAGK. 

